Mariehamn

About This Anchorage

Mariehamn is the capital of the autonomous Åland Islands — a charming small city (population 12,000) that serves as the hub of Baltic sailing between Finland and Sweden. The city was founded in 1861 on a peninsula between two large natural harbours. Västerhamn (Western Harbour) is the main visitor marina, hosting hundreds of yachts in summer and serving as the starting point for the Åland archipelago sailing circuit. The Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum (Maritime Museum) is outstanding — Åland's fleet of sailing ships in the early 20th century was the last major commercial sailing fleet in the world; the museum preserves this heritage magnificently. The museum ship Pommern (1903, four-masted barque) is moored permanently in the harbour. The city has excellent provisioning, fuel, restaurants, and the full infrastructure of a well-developed sailing destination.

Hazards

• !Very busy in July–August — arrive early or book marina berth in advance
• !Large ferry traffic (Viking Line, Tallink Silja) between Helsinki, Turku, and Stockholm — monitor AIS; ferries create significant wash
• !Open to west and NW — westerly conditions in harbour create swell
• !City harbour — noise from town, ferry horns at night
• !Anchorage in outer bay exposed in westerly — marina berth recommended in any W conditions

Skipper's Tips

• →The Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum is essential — the story of Åland's last sailing ships is one of the great maritime history stories; allow 3 hours
• →The museum ship Pommern can be boarded in summer — standing on the deck of a genuine 1903 four-masted barque is extraordinary
• →Mariehamn's restaurants concentrate on Esplanadgatan — the main boulevard; book dinner in advance in July
• →The city is flat and ideal for cycling — hire bikes from the marina and explore the peninsula
• →Stock up fully here before heading to the outer islands — Mariehamn has the best provisioning in the entire Åland archipelago

Nearby Anchorages